Comparing Cats: A Discussion of Similarities & Differences

[Luipaard]

Here's an interesting read. Written by wildlife researcher Stefan Pociask:

How Often Do Jaguars And Pumas Meet In The Wild?

"...So where do we begin, in order to answer this question? Well, very clearly, we should begin with the multi-year study that was devoted almost precisely to the crux of this question! This study was already cited in another’s answer to this question, but given a particular connection that I have to this study… I might be able to add additional perspective to it. The study can be found here: Jaguar interactions with pumas and prey at the northern edge of jaguars’ range.

They concentrated on an area in northern Sonora, Mexico. This is a relatively arid area, and is an example of only one of many different types of ecosystems that these two cats share. I won’t paraphrase their findings, as I don’t want to misconstrue anything. But I will make some comments of my interpretation. In arid areas such as northern Mexico, the jaguars tend to be smaller than their South American brethren. This puts them into a range that is very close in size to the puma that also make their homes there. This makes for a relationship that is specific to Northern Mexico, and the specifics of this relationship can’t necessarily be applied to all puma/jaguar relationships across the Americas. In a situation where the jaguar and puma are of similar size, they have found a way to co-exist.

Two large, similar sized predators are aware that neither has anything to gain, and much to lose, by tangling with the other. There is no point in trying to be dominant over the other through physical confrontations, as it is likely that both will walk away with substantial injuries. Who needs that, right? So, I guess their relationship is one of mutual respect. If they come upon each other in these areas, they tend to essentially give a tip of the hat to each other… perhaps one may say “What’s up?”… the other responding with “Hey, what’s up?”… a mutual nod, and they go on about their business, back toward their neck of the woods.

This means little to a puma. No biggie. In a fight, a puma will outmaneuver those jaws in a heart beat. Sure, if jag can get puma’s head in its grip… it’s curtains. But puma has equal claws, can have equal weight, and the quickness to give its own version of an ass-whoopin’ on a jaguar. All this to say that, even though jaguars have been known to eat over a hundred different species, their relatively low litheness, compared to a puma, often makes small prey too much of an energy expenditure to bother with. Jag would rather go take down that 1200 pound bull grazing too close to the wood line… because he can. Meanwhile, puma will be happy to supplement its diet with a dozen squirrels and a bird or two… because he can. So that explains why the extremes in their prey go in different directions, despite being equally matched. But still… both would choose a calf or a deer if available."

Full article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/12/19/how-often-do-jaguars-and-pumas-meet-in-the-wild/#2741853a3d43 Reply